Bella Magazine - August 2018 by Bella Magazine

YEARS 2006-2018

august 2018

BAC K TO S C H O O L LO C A L WO M E N A R EA H A P P E N I N G S

A u g u st 2 0 18

Issu e On e Hu n d re d For ty- S i x

YEARS 2006-2018

Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com •••

editorial

For editorial consideration: editorial@beckmediagroup.com

inside August 2018

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back to school

It’s that time of year again! And we’ve rounded up some helpful hints to make the transition smoother. From helping your kids to combat body image issues to saving time with weeknight dinners to products for your now on-the-go life!

Contributors: Tina Hatcher, Faith Jones, K.L. Kranes, Member One Federal Credit Union, Sarah Raines, Hayleigh Worgan

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mind • body • soul

Join Sarah Raines as she gets outside her comfort zone and tries kayaking! And Earth Girl Wellness helps you decide what’s best for that next snack splurge.

Editorial Intern: Cassandra Kuhn, University of Florida •••

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advertising

With over 12 years experience in Southwest & Central Virginia, Bella is your BEST advertising option with proven results, loyal readership, wonderful content, and an award-winning design! To market yourself and your business to the women of Southwest & Central Virginia, call us at (540) 904-6800 or email advertise@beckmediagroup.com Shannon Peters Advertising Sales Representative shannon@beckmediagroup.com •••

operations

For general inquiries: bella@beckmediagroup.com Sara Coakley Office Manager

shopping

Get as excited as we are... BJ’s Wholesale is coming to the Roanoke Valley!!! We’ve got the membership details to sign up now and be ready for great savings.

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save smarter

Is your family prepared for a disaster? Member One Federal Credit Union has a few simple tips to help you and your family be disaster-ready.

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virginia made

This month, Hill City Handmade of Lynchburg features Lora Cartrett, founder of Tater Tots Trends! Check out these super cute handmade earrings! Plus, she’s offering a free pair with every order. Don’t miss it!

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young female writers club Meet writer Emma Choi from

Vienna, Virginia. K.L. Kranes introduces this amazingly accomplished author to our readers.

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bella sips

This month we feature a line of infused maple syrups from Vermont and we share a unique recipe for a cocktail not to be missed!

LLC

P.O. Box 107 Roanoke, Virginia 24002 540.904.6800 Bella Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed monthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse ad space for any advertisement or editorial content the staff deems inappropriate for our readers. The concept and design of Bella Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2006-2018 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN VIRGINIA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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happenings

This month check out Cirque du Floyd taking place August 18 at Chantilly Farm in Floyd! This second annual event has become one of our favorite (and unique) events around. All the details are here. And Wilderness Adventure in Catawba is offering their Adventure Weekend on August 11 and 12 — the perfect chance to see all they offer!

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profile

This month meet Allison Bowersock of Run About Sports in Roanoke. Ready to start making healthier lifestyle choices? Allison can show you how! august 2018

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back to school

Combatting Body Image Problems

Written by Sarah Raines

With August here, we’ll be heading into sweater weather soon and the kids will be back at their desks. We know that the pressure to have the thin ideal or macho bod does not disappear in the media come fall and winter. Children are exposed to the media year-round, like us, and may begin to or continue experiencing peer pressure to fit in. But it isn’t just older youth that are bothered. Some elementary age children believe they ought to be skinnier. Concerning females, ninety-one percent express discontent regarding our physiques. But what can we do? Below are some tips from National Eating Disorders Association that we can use on ourselves and our kids.

Tips for Us

Make suitable wardrobe choices. I know it’s tempting to buy the latest trend. But National Eating Disorders Association says, “Work with your body, not against it.” Do not be preoccupied with a few physical features. It’s important that one perceives oneself “as a whole person” instead of worrying about certain physical attributes. Think kind thoughts! Make a conscious effort to ignore off-putting thoughts about the body by using “a few quick affirmations that work for you.”

Strategies to Help Youth

Emphasize core characteristics. It’s important that children grow up viewing “personal worth” as something that can be measured by such things as “care and concern for others” or “individuality” rather than physical features. Express gender equality. The National Eating Disorders Association says, “Talk to your children about the way body shape and sexuality are manipulated by the media…” as well as notes a necessity to refrain from “restricting children to gender-specific activities.” Foster critical thinking. Observe media with an acute eye and let your kids experience you oppose ideas put forth by the various mediums. Also, invite your kids to discuss “the pressures they see, hear, and feel to diet and to ‘look good.’”

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For more information check out these works cited: National Eating Disorders Association Developing and Modeling Positive Body Image www.nationaleatingdisorders.org National Eating Disorders Association Ten Steps to Positive Body Image www.nationaleatingdisorders.org Kids as Young as Five Concerned about Body Image by Kelly Wallace www.cnn.com How to Improve Your Body Image by Joel L. Young www.psychologytoday.com

Sarah Raines is a local of Salem, Virginia majoring in Creative Writing as well as minoring in Psychology and Literary Studies at Roanoke College. Sarah currently holds the position of Content Editor of Roanoke Review. And when she isn’t cuddling her pup, she’s most likely typing away at her next poem, story, or nonfiction piece. august 2018

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back to school

bella finds

Back to school. And back to getting on track with healthy, yet easy, eating on the go before rushing the kids off to school and PTA meetings. We’ve found a few products to help make the transition from summer ease to schedules/homework/deadlines/ practices, while getting in the nutrients you need to keep your family health and fit. Simply throw these products in your tote and you’re armed with healthy snacks and beverages they will actually like!

Gummy Vitamin C Slices

Get enough immune-boosting essential vitamins in a fun and tasty way. These natural fruit-flavored gummies offer a super boost of vitamin C plus added vitamin E for immune health and added antioxidant protection. www.rainbowlight.com

Too Cool for School

Okay, this isn’t something to eat, obviously! But we found this super cool line of schoolbags, lunchbags and accessories from Nununu that are perfect not only for your cool hipster-wannabees to carry, but are perfect way to organize all your healthy (and maybe not-so-healthy) goodies! www.nununuworld.com

Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes

These ready-to-eat oatmeal pouches, packed with grains and fruit bites, are perfect for a quick on-the-go snack in re-sealable pouches! Available in 5 flavors. (Not going to lie. We were skeptical about this one, but we tried it and they are delicious and not weird in a ‘squeezing oatmeal out of a pouch’ way. 9-year-old boy approved too!) www.munkpack.com

Sparkling Ice

This excellent soda alternative is perfect for on-the-go hydration for the whole family! It’s slightly carbonated with B-Vitamins, vitamin D and antioxidants. Once home from soccer practices, try one of their adult recipes on their website to bring your Sparking Ice to the next level! www.sparklingice.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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back to school

Feeding the Family

Healthy, easy options for chaotic back-to-school evenings! Written by Hayleigh Worgan Getting everyone around the table for a dinner together is hard enough—and weekends are often packed full once school starts. That’s why we love meal delivery subscriptions! They make feeding the family, or a few friends, a much easier experience. Check out our favorites below, and let us know yours on our Facebook page. First up is Purple Carrot! We love that this delivery service is plant-based. Their website suggests they are perfect for the “Balanceatarian.” Don’t worry, we know that’s not in the dictionary. According to Purple Carrot, it means “a person who adopts a plant-based diet, even just a couple of times a week—positively impacting their health and the environment.” Choose from dishes like Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos with Caramelized Pineapple and Chipotle Ranch, Lemon Garlic Orzo with Spring Vegetables and Tomato Beurre Blanc, and Vegetable Panang Curry with Jasmine Rice and Cashews! A majority of their packaging is reusable, recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable. Visit www.purplecarrot.com for more information! Plated believes that “deciding what to do for dinner shouldn’t be a struggle.” And it often is in families. Their “foolproof recipes” are designed for every cooking level, and some can be done in as little as twenty minutes. Omnivores, vegetarians, seafood lovers, and dessert seekers—there are options for everyone! Their menus include food that is in season, so you are receiving fresh options from trusted resources. Previous selections have included Garlic-Soy Pork Chop with Bok Choy and Water Chestnuts, the Shakshuka Pizza with Za’atar Crust and Feta, or the Chicken Caesar Panzalla with Brioche Croutons and Roasted Tomato. For more information, visit www.plated.com! If we had a favorite delivery service, let’s be honest, it would be Hello Fresh. Twenty-minute meal options like Mediterranean Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce and Green Beans and Pineapple Poblano Beef Tacos would have had us hooked from the beginning, but they also offer wine plans! Listen, while this may not be relevant to the entire family, it is great for date night or Girls Night In! For meals, choose from the Classic Plan, the Family Plan, and the Veggie Plan! Pick a plan that fits your lifestyle, choose your recipes, and then just wait for delivery. Plans are easy to access online, and you can skip weeks, page 10

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swap recipes, or cancel at anytime! Hello Fresh offers simple tutorials on how to recycle the packaging with your delivery as well. Visit www.hellofresh.com to find out more or place your order!

Sun Basket serves organic, clean ingredients and delicious recipes, all delivered weekly. Choose from Paleo, Lean, Clean, Gluten-free, Vegan options, and more! Subscribers can pick from their Classic Menu (which serves 2-4 people and has several options) or the Family Plan, which serves a family of four. Within the Family Plan, there are “Chef ’s Choice” recipes that include a Kids Can recipe with steps and in-box activities for kids to get in on the fun! Not only is this an excellent opportunity to get the kids involved in the kitchen, it’s also a great way to teach them about food and sustainability. Packaging for these meals are also 100% recyclable and compostable. Sun Basket gives back to the community through Feeding America, local food banks, and employee programs. Check them out at www.sunbasket.com!

If your family loves freshly-blended juices, Green Blender is a great delivery option. With curated recipes and pre-portioned ingredients, all you have to do is chop, blend, and drink! Each delivery is packed full of plant-powered superfoods, and weekly menus have options for every taste palate like Matcha Latte, Green and Gold Berry Boost, and Strawberry Banana Creamsicle! They also offer Superfood Cereals in flavors like Berry Protein, Cranberry Crunch, and Oatmeal Cookie. Choose from their weekly menu and build a plan that will help you meet your family’s health goals! Visit www. greenblender.com to start building your plan today!

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Take me to

2 Piccadilly A shopping destination of women-owned boutiques featuring designer clothing and accessories to exclusive home décor and professional interior design services. Everything is at Piccadilly Square!

meet magnolia Written by Cassandra Kuhn

Jessica Durham page 12

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In 2009, magnolia found its roots at a little booth in Black Dog Salvage. Starting just as a small-scale home décor and furnishings company, owners Jessica Durham and Lori Noonkester envisioned a broader future for magnolia and opened their first storefront in Abingdon, Virginia. Soon after the store saw increasing popularity, its Roanoke location opened at The Forum Shopping Center in 2013 to serve more customers and provide a unique alternative to interior furnishings and designs to the valley. In October of 2017, magnolia moved to Piccadilly Square and obtained a location that offered a larger space to open a Visual Comfort lighting gallery, a hidden treasure found in only two other stores in the state of Virginia. Jessica and Lori wanted to capture the essence of the fresh approach, as seen in larger interior furnishing markets, with their welcoming atmosphere and poised design. Each furniture piece found in magnolia is hand-picked from markets and vendors in the United States to ensure the most up and coming styles are provided to customers, something that is rare to find in stores. They also have a more personal approach, allowing customers to order an item that is not in-store. magnolia has a variety of bedding including from Peacock Alley, Pine Cone Hill, Pom Pom at Home, and John Robshaw. Since moving to their new location, a bedding display has been added to feature the brands that they want to showcase. Among the array of items found in the store, they provide custom upholstery from their hundreds of fabrics and finishes to choose from. To go along with the furniture, magnolia has a wide variety of rugs that can be custom sized and a selection of some vintage finds, as well as home hardware including drawer pulls and door knobs. magnolia is also proud to offer local authentic art pieces from Sandy Lear, Carson Price, Maria Driscoll, Cameron Richter, and Donna Tuten. Keep an eye out for magnolias various art shows throughout the year featuring works from local artists and talents found in the community! In addition to home décor, they also have a selection of handbags, candles, jewelry, and stationery to go with your newly decorated home. There is something for everyone at magnolia and no detail is too small, so stop by and see what you can find or follow @magnolia_roanoke on Instagram to get some inspiration for your home!

3107-3117 Franklin Road • South Roanoke

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mind•body•soul

YEARS 2006-2018

Outside Your Comfort Zone

Written by Sarah Raines

Just Me and My Kayak

YEARS 2006-2018

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The 4pm wind shimmies through my curls, sticky from salt and sunscreen, stretched over my forehead. I look to the right where my aunt and uncle stand on the bridge resting over the water and then left to the marsh expanding in the distance. Straight ahead is the main drag with the boats and jet skis zooming past. Since the water’s too shallow and the grass is too thick for me to paddle through, I’m going to have to enter the central waterway to reach the marsh area further down. Should I turn back? One breath flows from my lips and I hear the salt crunch from the weight of my gritting teeth. Nah, you got this. A boat glides past and my kayak is jostled from side to side. I keep paddling. I hear another boat behind me. I turn my head but it’s a ways back past the bridge and shore where everyone else is moving about. It’s just me and my kayak out in the open. Yeah, I’m a big girl, but the water is really pulling against my paddle and I don’t seem to be making any headway; I could use another set of hands to steer this thing. I take another deep breath, lean forward, ignore the glare of the light on my sunglasses, and grip both ends of the paddle. I’m moving left then right and left then right and so forth. I’m doing this! As I reach the marsh, I turn my head with a smirk and see the tiny outlines of all at the shoreline. I’m now free to move in whichever direction through the serpentine paths formed by the wetland grasses of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. So I stretch my neck and paddle on. Crossing into the main waterway at Ocean Isle this past June was a personal victory for me. I disregarded my fear and listened to the voice saying I was capable. Now that I’m home, be on the lookout for my next adventure in the Roanoke Valley! Sarah Raines is a local of Salem, Virginia majoring in Creative Writing as well as minoring in Psychology and Literary Studies at Roanoke College. Sarah currently holds the position of Content Editor of Roanoke Review. And when she isn’t cuddling her pup, she’s most likely typing away at her next poem, story, or nonfiction piece. august 2018

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YEARS 2006-2018

Written by Tina Hatcher

Enjoy Your Splurge! We’ve all reached for a goodie on the “Forbidden List!” With all the enticing choices out there and our innate instinct to eat foods containing salt, sugar and fat; it’s no wonder we fall prey to sticky, sugary, salty, fat-filled treats! Failing to occasionally succumb to these desires usually results in an eventual complete lack of self-control for anything and everything. Complete abstinence can cause even the best laid plans to eat only superior quality foods to fall flat. So what’s a person with marginal self-control to do? Splurge! Earth Girl doesn’t recommend splurging on just anything that crosses your path. After all, why eat something that only tastes marginal and makes you feel completely guilty later? Choosing to splurge on only the best and most desirable favorites on your list will put a smile on your face, satisfaction in your belly and won’t create any of the agonizing guilt. So, here’s how to splurge properly... the Earth Girl Wellness Splurge Scale. Think in terms of a “yummy scale” with 10 being the best thing you can imagine eating. If it’s “10 yummies,” enjoy! If it’s “1 yummy,” don’t even pick it up! Tina Hatcher is the owner of Earth Girl Wellness, LLC. Her passion for overall wellness has allowed her to work in multiple disciplines from corrective exercise, sports performance and sports nutrition, weight loss, and nutritional counseling across all ages for the last 25 years. www.earthgirlwellness.com

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If the food is: 1-6 yummies: Don’t touch it. You don’t really enjoy the food (or drink) anyway. 7-8 yummies: Okay, it’s enticing, but take a few tastes and push it aside. 9-10 yummies: Enjoy! This is what you love! Eat a moderately sized portion without guilt! This as an example of what Earth Girl’s Splurge Scale might look like: 1-6 yummies: Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies. They really aren’t so great so I won’t eat them. 7-8 yummies: Cookies from a bakery. They are enticing and I might take a nibble or two. 9-10 yummies: Homemade chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. Love them! Will definitely eat two without guilt!

Now, be honest with yourself. Don’t convince yourself that only a “4 yummies” is splurge worthy. Just because your friends are eating it doesn’t mean you should! Be the example. It is a good idea to sit down and create a list of items you truly love and that fall in the “9-10 yummies” so you don’t have to debate the fact when temptation arises. My list begins with homemade cheesecake, red wine (at least a $10 bottle!), and ice cream from my favorite shop. If you need help creating your splurge-worthy treats...contact Earth Girl.

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shop & save BJ’s Wholesale is coming to Roanoke! Being the bargain shoppers we are, finding out BJ’s Wholesale is coming to the Roanoke Valley made us jump for joy! BJ’s is a leading membership warehouse club in the Eastern United States. The Roanoke club will be located along Hershberger Road, N.W. in the Crossroads Shopping Center. “We’re thrilled to bring BJ’s Wholesale Club to the community and to let families save up to 25% on their groceries,” said Chris Baldwin, president and CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “BJ’s is the perfect one-stop shopping destination, offering unbeatable value and quality on a wide selection of items from fresh produce, deli and bakery to the latest in tech, health and beauty and apparel.” The Roanoke BJ’s Wholesale Club is scheduled to open this fall and will provide affordable fresh food options to the community, saving families 25 percent compared to grocery store prices. The club will feature a BJ’s gas station, offering members even more savings. The company currently operates over 210 Clubs (and counting!) in 16 states from Maine to Florida and employs more than 25,000 Team Members. So, their reputation alone means we can’t wait to check out all they offer. So, just how can you sign up to join NOW? Visit their Hospitality Center, located at 1507 Hershberger Road in Roanoke or visit their website at www.bjs. com/roanoke. Currently you can enjoy the privileges of being a “Roanoke Founding Member” with two special offers when you join by August 31. For $45, you’ll receive a 12-month BJ’s Inner Circle membership, 10 cents off per gallon at BJ’s Gas for six months after the Club opens and $20 in BJ’s Bucks. Or for $80, you’ll receive a 12-month BJ’s Perks Rewards membership and earn 2% cash back on most BJ’s purchases. Plus, you’ll get $35 in BJ’s Bucks and save 10 cents off per gallon at BJ’s Gas for six months after the Club opens! BJ’s Wholesale Club brings a number of benefits to the community:

• BJ’s offers excellent value. • BJ’s beats supermarket prices on national brands every day, saving families 25 percent on groceries. • The company is the only major wholesale club that accepts all manufacturers’ coupons, offering families another great way to save. • Its exclusive brands, Berkley Jensen and Wellsley Farms, let families save without sacrificing quality or fun. • BJ’s biggest advantage is fresh food – produce, dairy, meat and deli. • BJ’s offers members much more fresh food variety than other clubs. • BJ’s is the only major wholesale club to offer a full-service deli with premium meats and cheeses. • Members can have fresh meats cut to their specifications. BJ’s butchers will recut and repackage at no additional charge. • A BJ’s Membership is filled with added convenience. • BJ’s offers the most payment options of any major wholesale club. • Members can research, shop and install electronics with help from BJ’s Tech Advisors. • BJ’s Pick Up & Pay program allows shoppers to stock up by reserving select items online and then picking up in-club. • Members can save time and money by filling up their tanks at BJ’s Gas. The company’s gas prices will be among the lowest around.

Additionally, through BJ’s Feeding Communities Program, the Club will donate unsold produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and bakery products on a daily basis to reduce food waste and provide wholesome, fresh food to neighbors in need. BJ’s provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. And BJ’s is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers’ coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options. To sign up for your membership or to learn more about BJ’s Wholesale Club, visit www.bjs.com/roanoke. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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West e g a l l i V

The Shoppes at

SHOPPING • DINING • SERVICES

Located less than 1.5 miles from I-581 on Electric Road in Roanoke County

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save smarter Presented by Member One Federal Credit Union

Is Your Family Prepared for a Disaster? Being disaster-ready is easy. Follow our few simple tips. From tornadoes to house fires and floods—all are disasters that can devastate our lives. If you’re ever in one of these situations, the last thing you want to be doing is picking up the disorganized pieces when a little preparation could have helped alleviate some of the chaos. Hopefully you’ll never experience a disaster, but if you do, our tips on what to collect and how to keep important documents safe could help put your mind at ease if the unexpected happens. Collect key documents. This includes personal identification for everyone in your household such as birth certificates, social security cards, passports, and pet identification tags. Also gather insurance policy numbers and the insurance company contact information for each type of coverage. You’ll also want to store a copy of property records like deeds and mortgage documents, medical information including prescriptions, estate-planning documents, and legal and financial records including taxes from the past few years. Record contact information for family and friends in case you don’t have access to your cell phone and need to reach out for help. Invest in storage. Select a way to store the items that’s easy to grab in a hurry. Options include a fireproof and waterproof safe, a binder with sleeves to hold all documents, or a w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

safety deposit box at your local financial institution. You could also opt to store everything electronically on, for example, a memory stick, external hard drive, or the cloud. It may be wise to combine a few options—a safe for paper documents plus an electronic storage option. Whatever you choose, place it somewhere that can be quickly and easily grabbed as you head out the door. Take inventory of your possessions. This is especially helpful if you need to file an insurance claim. Go through your home, room by room, and record your belongings. Make note of household valuables, such as jewelry, antiques, or collectibles, and write down their worth. Take photos or videos of your home’s contents so you have proof of your possessions. Store your inventory list and photos or videos with your other important documents. Set money aside. If a disaster impacts your whole community, it’s likely that your local financial institution could be affected as well, making it difficult to access your money. Additionally, merchants may not have electricity, making a quick swipe of your debit or credit card impossible. Set aside enough cash to cover essentials for a couple of days, which might include a few nights in a hotel, food and water, and basic amenities like clothing. Article courtesy of

Join Member One here each month for more money-saving tips and financial advice! Be sure to visit their website, www.memberonefcu.com, for more info on their products and services. Member One Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. august 2018

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Written by Faith Jones of Hill City Handmade

Meet Lora Cartrett of

Tater Tot Trends

Tribe. Sisterhood. Movement. All things that today’s woman longs for and needs as she battles the day to day of balancing family, career, life, and self. Lora Cartrett, the founder of Tater Tots Trends, is no different. They are words that she never expected to use to describe the business. Yet, it has become everything the 35-year-old founder wanted her Concord, VA based trendy jewelry line to represent. Tater Tots Trends began as a creative outlet for Lora as she transitioned from working outside of the home as the director of a daycare to a stay at home mom. As her children were so young, she naturally began making a variety of unique and fun baby items. The brightlycolored and whimsical bows, headbands and bowties quickly took off. Between pop up shops in her mom’s home, craft markets and selling on social media, Lora found herself busier than she ever imagined. Then life threw more than a few major curve balls and Tater Tots Trends took a backseat to personal and family well-being. There is nothing quite like going through a storm that gives a whole new perspective on life. Lora’s journey took her down a path of insecurity, hopelessness, postpartum depression, devastation, and loss. In her survival, she discovered a new self-awareness that needed to be reflected in the business. As Tater Tots Trends began its return, the name remained the same, but the vibe was different. Jewelry was the focus and women were the priority. This revitalization was for Lora and every other woman who longed to feel accepted and beautiful wherever they are in the journey. Visiting Tater Tots’ social media pages, one can’t help but notice the diversity of women (and their daughters) posting daily photos wearing TTT. Women are complimenting, supporting and cheering each other on. They are proudly shouting that even though they may not be feeling their best or having the best day, one pair of earrings can evoke the TTT motto, Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful. It is a safe space to post filter free and feel a certain celebrity status throughout the day as likes and comments promote the “You go girl!” feeling. It is then that you realize, this is not just about accessories. “Tater Tots Trends is a movement. It has evolved into so much more than ladies’ jewelry. It has moved into a tribe w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

full of women who empower and inspire one another!” Even as she sits on the first day of a beach vacation, Lora assures her customers turned sisters, that the TTT team will take good care of them in her absence. Her two daughters and son (whose nickname inspired the business name), plus her husband Joe (deemed her fourth child) will always take priority. The journey continues and storms may still arise but with a supportive family and thousands of “sisters” by her side, Lora is at peace in her newfound purpose.

Bella Mag Deal Use coazine FREE Ea

“BELLA”de:

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Find Tater Tot Trends: www.tatertotstrends.store

@tatertottrends

/tatertottrends Faith Jones is a local entrepreneur, creative, and believer. Her businesses include Faith Inspired and The Hill City Handmade. Faith has a degree in Art and Photography and is a former high school art and culinary teacher. She enjoys spending time with her family and travelling. Faith’s motto is, “Paris is always a good idea.”

www.thehillcityhandmade.com august 2018 | bella magazine

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young female writers club *

Monthly feature of regional young women making their way in the world and making a difference along the way!

Writing

Outside the Box

Meet Emma Choi Written by K.L. Kranes

• • • •

During our interview, I quip that Emma is quite the overachiever. But Emma doesn’t agree. “I’ve never thought about it as being an overachiever. I do a lot of contests because I want to challenge myself,” Emma explains. In fact, Emma is very humble when it comes to her writing. Whenever my questions turn to her achievements, her voice leaps from overdrive to hyper-speed and she quickly tries to change the topic. Emma is much more comfortable talking about literature, her writing process or diversity in books. Perhaps this is because Emma has a writer’s soul. She understands a writer’s purpose isn’t to shine the light on herself but to shine it on the truth. Uncovering truth is one of the reasons Emma plans to major in writing in college despite the well-known struggles that scare many writers into safer academic pursuits. “A lot of people frown on me when I tell them I want to be a writer,” Emma says. “They don’t realize the impact of writers on the world. Science changes but certain truths in writing always stay

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Talking with 18-year-old Emma Choi of Vienna, Virginia feels a bit like jumping into an episode of Gilmore Girls. If you are unfamiliar with the iconic TV show, it is about two fast-talking ladies who throw around references to things like pop culture, philosophy and books so quickly even the best viewers can’t catch them all. During our phone interview, Emma’s words and ideas swirl so fast in my ear my nimble little typing fingers can barely keep up. When she starts listing off her writing resume, I have to ask her to stop and repeat. The list is long, especially for someone so young. • An off-Broadway play performed in New York. • Two plays performed at DC’s Capital Fringe Fest, one of which one the “best of ” week. Gold and silver medal winner of the American Voices Award for Poetry. Commended Foyle Young Poet. Winner National Young Arts Foundation Honorable Mention. Winner Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Young Creator Contest.

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the same. I think writers show others their own subjective truths in the hope that it’ll resonate with someone else.” For Emma, writing helps her process her emotions and sort through the complicated layers of the world. She focuses on discovering her own truths, particularly what it means to be an Asian American. Emma struggles with straddling the culture of her family’s Korean past with the culture of their Western present. “It’s like being a child of two worlds and not really belonging to one,” she explains. Growing up, literature did little to help Emma make sense of her identity, if anything it further complicated her search. “As a reader I grew up on the classics and so many of the classics are by white men. I’m trying to reconcile how can my influences be who they are if I am who I am,” Emma says.

It is not surprising Emma views the recent focus on diverse women writers as an important shift in the literary world. She looks up to writers like Roxane Gay and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who help bring diverse female voices to the forefront. Emma hopes to add her voice to the chorus one day. However, perhaps not in the way most people expect. “It’s a great time to be an Asian-American and a woman writer. People really care and want to hear about your experience,” Emma says. “But with that kind of attention comes expectations about the kind of work you put out.” As a minority, Emma explains, writing can become a vicious circle where simply by writing about not wanting to be defined by race, a writer ends up being defined by race. Emma doesn’t want to be, “stuck in a box by people who want you to write about being stuck in a box.” Emma wants to be outside the box. She wants to define the box, regardless of sex or race or ethnicity. “I don’t want to be one of the best women or Asian-American writers. I want to be one of the great writers. Period,” she says. This is not surprising coming from a young woman who started an underground satirical newspaper at her high school after being denied permission at every level of county administration. Determined, hard-working and driven, Emma is one of only two students at her high school to be accepted to Harvard, which is another accolade she tries to slip in at Gilmore Girl speed. If Emma had a motto, it would be ‘don’t stop’. “I tend to barrel headfirst into things and I don’t stop until I’m done. Resilience is one thing I like to pride myself on,” Emma explains. That said, Emma has no plans to overlook the importance of diversity. She feels writing about diverse topics drives forward acceptance and awareness and she wants to be part of that movement. “I made a pact with myself to make all my characters a person of color or a woman,” she explains. It is very likely Emma’s social awareness, drive for self-improvement and search for truth may just be the perfect combination for success as a professional author. “I love that writing lets me be in a space with no rules— where I can experiment and play with language in ways I wouldn’t normally,” she says. She certainly already sounds like one. K.L. Kranes is a blogger and author of young adult novels. Her debut novel, The Travelers, was published in 2016 by Saguaro Books, LLC. See more from K.L. at www.klkranes.com/blog. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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bella sips

YEARS 2006-2018

Infused Maple Syrup Not just for pancakes & waffles!

Runamok Maple, located in northern Vermont, has created a devine line of infused maple syrups. That’s right. Infused maple syrup! Spanning 1,100 acres, Eric and Laura Sorkin and their crew tap 81,000 trees to bring you one of Mother Nature’s most exquisite pleasures: pure maple syrup. But they don’t stop with just plain ol’ maple syrup! They’ve created a collection of infused, smoked and barrel-aged maple syrups. Offering tried and true flavors like cinnamon and vanilla, they have several that are unexpectedly out of this world, like their original Makrut lime-leaf. The Runamok Maple team infuses delicious, pure, organic maple syrup with ingredients like wild berries, lime and organic hibiscus flowers to create unexpected flavors. Visit their website for more info on their story and find wonderful recipes using their maple syrups. We’ve included their Cuidado cocktail recipe below featuring their spicy Merquen Infused Maple Syrup which has a smoky chili pepper kick to it! Enjoy. www.runamokmaple.com Recipe from Laura Sorkin of Runamok Maple “Our Merquén Infused Maple Syrup has a smoky chili pepper kick to it which makes for a very lively cocktail. The apricot jam gives it a calming base of homey, sweetness which is promptly brought to attention by the spicy Merquén and piquant ginger beer. The rum provides a bridge for all of the flavors to meet in the middle. If you want to tread lightly into this good concoction, start with just a teaspoon of Merquén and taste, then add more to your liking. Cuidado means ‘caution’ in Spanish. I suggest you prepare yourself for something unusual and truly delicious.”

Cuidado

1 ½ oz fresh lemon juice 1 tsp Merquén Infused Maple Syrup (or to taste) 1 Tbsp apricot jam 1 oz dark rum Ice 1 oz ginger beer Put the first four ingredients in a tall glass and stir until the jam is dissolved. Add ice then top with ginger beer and serve. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m

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August Happenings

Celebrate summer with these fun festivals!

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